MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Individual Experiencing Mental Health Problems

Mental Health Problems

Introduction

There is enormous diversity among families diversity in the composition of families, in their ethnic and racial heritage, in their religious and spiritual orientation, in how they communicate, in the time they spend together, in their commitment to individual family members, in their connections to their community, in their experiences, and in their ability to adapt to stress. Within families, individuals are different from one another as well. Pediatricians are especially sensitive to differences among children in their temperaments and personalities, in their innate and learned abilities, and in how they view themselves and respond to the world around them. It is remarkable and a testament to the effort of parents and to the resilience of children that most families function well and most children succeed in life. This paper discusses a patient Jamaine suffering from Paranoia Schizophrenia referred by a psychiatric unit (In patient) to the community.

Jamaine as s a Assertive Outreach worker

Jamaine as a asertive outreach worker, works with an identified client group of severely mentally ill adults who do not effectively engage with mental health services. The approach is characterised by work with clients in their own environment, wherever that may be. This flexibility of approach allows services to be provided to people who may not otherwise receive them, where they feel most comfortable. Workers may also visit or accompany clients when they use other services. This encourages a two-way engagement that helps to develop trust and rapport and to establish links with other agencies.

Assertive outreach staff expects to see their clients frequently and to stay in contact, however difficult that may be. The long-term aim is to build a relationship between the individual and mental health services. Assertive outreach workers aim to establish a trusting relationship with each client in a flexible, creative and needs-focused way that enables the delivery of a health and social care package that fits each client's own specific needs.

Depending on local needs, assertive outreach staff may work together in a dedicated team, or they may be specialists working in a more generic community mental health team. However assertive outreach is configured it will be essential that each assertive outreach worker takes responsibility for the overall package of care a client receives. Assertive outreach must therefore take place within an integrated system of care.

Recommendations:

All outreach practitioners should:

Avoid labelling people as 'hard to engage'; this does not refl ect the fact that most want help.

Follow user priorities and focus on practical support and quality of life issues.

Recognise the intrinsic importance of relationships with users and the need for consistent, flexible and reliable support that is available in the longer term.

Provide informal emotional and 'therapeutic' support.

Off er diff erent kinds of caring relationships to suit different users.

Offer help with a range of needs including accommodation and money.

Support users to access other services and activities.

Have the skill to identify mental health problems and drug and alcohol problems and either off erappropriate skilled support or ...